Transitioning

You need to do the things today that mirror where you want to be in the future. So, knowing where you are going will force you to make changes about where you are right now.

I am thinking about this right now because I am putting changes in place at my company right now that will shape I want to take the company over the next 1.5 years.

There are components to what we are doing now that will carry through to the next season of who we are as a company, sure. But some of the great things we do right now won’t survive the next 6 to 12 months because they will hold us back if we keep doing them.

Transitioning involves so much pruning. It takes a daily, hourly, minute by minute effort to make sure habits are changed. The work is simple. It’s the mental and emotional component involved in pushing yourself that makes change so difficult.

If you are looking to make a change, here are some questions to think through.

Why do you want to make a change?

This is the most important question. If you can’t define why, you will not make it through the difficult mental and emotional work required to change. Why keeps you moving.

What’s the time frame?

How long do you have? Keep in mind it will take you longer than you think.

Do you have the skills and resources to make the change?

This plays into your time frame. Be honest with yourself. You can’t fill round holes with square pegs. Make sure you can get the resources/skills, innovate, or get the help you need.

What’s the worst thing that can happen?

Fear will cripple you if you let it. The best advice I have ever received on how to face fear is to write down the most dramatic worst case scenario. Seriously, write it down on paper. Then read it out loud to yourself. It will sound ridiculous. Next, write down a realistic scenario if you fail and the reward for if you succeed. How does it compare? Let that answer tell you if it’s worth it.